Latest news with #St.CharlesPoliceDepartment
The Hill
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Second bomb threat reported at Illinois hotel housing Texas Democrats
A second bomb threat was reported at the Illinois hotel housing Texas Democrats who fled their state over the weekend, local police reported Friday. The St. Charles Police Department said in a press release that they had responded to a report of a possible bomb threat at 8:32 a.m. on Friday at the Q-Center. 'The St. Charles Police Department, in coordination with the Kane County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad and the Explosive Detection K-9 Unit, conducted a thorough search of the area. No explosive device was found. The area has been secured by authorities, and all 70 hotel guests are safe,' the department said. 'This morning's secondary threat occurred two days after the initial bomb threat was reported to police by the Q-Center on Aug. 6,' the department continued. 'In both instances, no explosive devices were found, and the designated areas were deemed safe. As a continued precaution, the St. Charles Police Department has increased patrols in the area since the initial report.' The Hill has reached out to a spokesperson for the Texas House Democrats for comment and St. Charles Police Department for additional details. 2024 Election Coverage Texas Democrats had to evacuate their hotel earlier this week due to another bomb threat, though no devices were found and those inside were unharmed. But the events underscore concerns of rising threats of political violence, particularly in light of the assassination of a Minnesota lawmaker in June. Texas Democrats fled the state to stop Republicans from trying to pass a new set of GOP-friendly House maps, but the Texas GOP is threatening there will be consequences and further moves to vacate lawmakers' seats if they don't show up later Friday for their special session.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Democrats evacuate amid bomb threat at Illinois hotel
WASHINGTON — Some of the Texas Democrats who fled their state to try to block Republicans' redistricting efforts were evacuated from an Illinois hotel where they were staying over a bomb threat. Police said they responded to a 'report of a potential bomb threat at the Q-Center hotel and convention complex' at 7:15 a.m. central time in St. Charles, a suburb west of Chicago. They said they conducted a 'thorough search' along with the Kane County Sheriff's Office bomb squad and found 'no device.' 'In response to the threat, 400 people were immediately evacuated and the area was secured as bomb squad units conducted their investigation,' the St. Charles Police Department wrote. 'Following clearance from authorities, all guests and staff have safely returned to the premises.' Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker wrote on X that, 'Threats of violence will be investigated and those responsible will be held accountable.' Texas House Rep. John Bucy III, one of the Democrats at the hotel, told USA TODAY in an Aug. 6 interview that many legislators were still asleep when the alarm went off in the morning and that the group gathered outside. He said it took about two hours before everything was cleared up and they were allowed to safely reenter. "I want to say thank you to Gov. Pritzker. I want to say thank you to law enforcement and to the hotel staff," Bucy said. "They worked diligently to make sure that the place was safe... They are showing what real leadership looks like. It's sad to me that (Texas Gov.) Greg Abbott doesn't have the same qualities in him as a leader." More than 50 Texas Democrats left their state on Aug. 3 to deny Republicans the quorum they need to move ahead with their redistricting efforts. The effort could give Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives up to five more seats in the 2026 midterms. The Democratic state lawmakers dispersed to blue states, including Illinois, Massachusetts and New York. Abbott, a Republican, filed an emergency petition Aug. 5 seeking to remove the Texas state Democratic House leader from office. Contributing: Phillip Bailey, Savannah Kuchar, and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas Democrats evacuated from Illinois hotel over bomb threat
Black America Web
5 days ago
- Politics
- Black America Web
Texas Lawmakers Evacuate Illinois Hotel Over Bomb Threat
Source: Getty Images Texas lawmakers that fled the state to block a vote over a new congressional map were forced to evacuate an Illinois hotel after a bomb threat on Wednesday morning, according to reports. Members of the House Democratic caucus were staying in a hotel in St. Charles, Illinois. First responders arrived on scene around 7:15 a.m. and conducted a thorough sweep of the hotel, but according to the St. Charles Police Department no device was found. 'In response to the threat, 400 people were immediately evacuated and the area was secured as bomb squad units conducted their investigation,' the St. Charles Police Department said in a statement. 'Following clearance from authorities, all guests and staff have safely returned to the premises.' Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has instructed the Illinois state police to handle the investigation into the threats of violence. We care about your data. See our privacy policy. Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chair Rep. Barbara Gervin Hawkins released a statement outlining Wednesday morning's events, while confirming all Texas lawmakers were safe: 'This morning, a threat was made against the safety of the members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus,' Rep. Hawkins said in a statement. 'We are safe, we are secure, and we are undeterred. We are grateful for Gov. Pritzker, local and state law enforcement for their quick action to ensure our safety.' Over 50 Texas House Democrats left Texas on Sunday to prevent a bill that would set new congressional districts from moving forward in the state House of Representatives. The push for redrawing the district maps has been led by President Donald Trump, who pointed out doing so would give the GOP a leg up in the Lone Star state. RELATED STORY: 30 Largest Cities in Texas Currently, Texas has 38 representatives in the U.S. Congress; 23 Republicans and 15 Democrats. The proposed redrawn maps could give Republicans up to five more seats. The Texas House Democrats leaving the state to block the vote has led to a call for civil arrests from Gov. Greg Abbott, for which he asked the Department of Public Safety to bring them back so they can be present for the vote. The Department of Public Safety does not have jurisdiction to do so outside the state of Texas. RELATED STORY: 30 Smallest Towns in Texas On Tuesday, Gov. Abbott filed a lawsuit with the Texas Supreme Court to remove state Rep. Gene Wu from office over his role in the ordeal. Attorney General Ken Paxton has reportedly stated his intentions to as a judge to declare the House Democrats' seats vacant if they do not return by Friday. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has reportedly written a letter to the FBI, asking for the agency to get involved, while President Trump reportedly stating on Tuesday that he too believes the FBI 'may have to' get involved. The post Texas Lawmakers Evacuate Illinois Hotel Over Bomb Threat appeared first on The Eagle 106.9/107.5. SEE ALSO Texas Lawmakers Evacuate Illinois Hotel Over Bomb Threat was originally published on
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Texas Democrats evacuated from Illinois hotel over bomb threat
They said they conducted a "thorough search" along with the Kane County Sheriff's Office bomb squad and found "no device." "In response to the threat, 400 people were immediately evacuated and the area was secured as bomb squad units conducted their investigation," the St. Charles Police Department wrote. "Following clearance from authorities, all guests and staff have safely returned to the premises." Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker wrote on X that, "Threats of violence will be investigated and those responsible will be held accountable." Texas House Rep. John Bucy III, one of the Democrats at the hotel, told USA TODAY in an Aug. 6 interview that many legislators were still asleep when the alarm went off in the morning and that the group gathered outside. He said it took about two hours before everything was cleared up and they were allowed to safely reenter. "I want to say thank you to Gov. Pritzker. I want to say thank you to law enforcement and to the hotel staff," Bucy said. "They worked diligently to make sure that the place was safe... They are showing what real leadership looks like. It's sad to me that (Texas Gov.) Greg Abbott doesn't have the same qualities in him as a leader." More than 50 Texas Democrats left their state on Aug. 3 to deny Republicans the quorum they need to move ahead with their redistricting efforts. The effort could give Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives up to five more seats in the 2026 midterms. The Democratic state lawmakers dispersed to blue states, including Illinois, Massachusetts and New York. Abbott, a Republican, filed an emergency petition Aug. 5 seeking to remove the Texas state Democratic House leader from office. Contributing: Phillip Bailey, Savannah Kuchar, and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY
The Hill
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Redistricting battles reach fever pitch
Evening Report Wednesday, Aug. 6 Redistricting battles reach fever pitch THE REDISTRICTING WARS raging across the U.S. took an ugly turn on Wednesday after a bomb threat forced Texas Democrats from a hotel in Illinois. The St. Charles Police Department responded to a report of a bomb threat this morning at the hotel where the Democrats were staying after having fled from Texas to thwart a vote on a new congressional map that will be more favorable to Republicans. No explosive devices were found but 400 people were evacuated as a bomb squad unit searched the building. 'Threats of violence will be investigated and those responsible will be held accountable,' Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) posted on the social media platform X. About 50 Texas Democrats fled the state over the weekend to deny the state legislature the quorum needed to vote on the newly redrawn maps, which could help the GOP pick up five House seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Redistricting typically takes place at the end of the decade when new census data is released. 'Donald Trump is trying to steal five seats from the people — frankly, of the country, not just the people of Texas — and disenfranchise people,' Pritzker said Tuesday on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.' 'We're talking about violating the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution.' Texas's move is unusual but legal under state and federal law. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Monday ordered the arrest of missing Democrats, saying they'd 'abandoned their duty to Texans.' In a Tuesday filing seeking to oust Texas Democratic Caucus Leader Gene Wu, Abbott's lawyers argued: 'If a small fraction of recalcitrant lawmakers choose to run out the clock today, they can do so for any, and every, Regular or Special Session, potentially bankrupting the State in an attempt to get their way.' The redistricting wars have consumed the political landscape since Texas initiated the special legislative session to approve their new maps. Democratic leaders in California, New York and other blue states are promising to retaliate by redrawing their own maps, although they're in some instances restricted from doing so by laws that have handed that power to independent commissions. Govs. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) and Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) say they're looking for legal workarounds to redistrict this year if Texas moves ahead. The Texas Democrats are smothering the airwaves, giving daily press conferences alongside blue state leaders such as Pritzker and Hochul, as they hope to run out the clock on the Texas legislature's special session. Republicans are crying foul, citing Illinois as having one of the worst gerrymanders in the country, according to a Princeton University analysis. New York, meanwhile, implemented new pro-Democratic maps ahead of the 2024 election. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said he thinks Texas's mid-decade redistricting efforts are 'wrong.' But he also blasted Hochul for threatening to retaliate. 'A reminder that @GovKathyHochul and New York tried to rig our elections and pull off a blatant partisan power grab in 2022 and 2024 DESPITE the constitution preventing gerrymandering, mid-decade redistricting, & requiring an independent commission. Now they want to do it again!' Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, cheekily defended his state's gerrymander Tuesday on CBS's 'Late Night with Stephen Colbert.' Colbert called the Illinois map 'crazy' and described one district as being shaped like a 'scorpion's tail.' 'We handed it over to a kindergarten class and let them decide,' Pritzker quipped. Still, Pritzker argued that Texas is breaking with tradition by implementing a new gerrymander ahead of a mid-decade midterm election. 'Every 10 years we do a census in this country and right after the census we redraw district in every state,' Pritzker said. 'But what the Republicans are trying to do in the Texas Republicans frankly at the behest of Donald Trump are doing it mid-decade. That is extraordinarily rare.' Meanwhile, the missing Texas Democrats are being fined $500 a day and could end up facing $400,000 in fees for fleeing the state, according to a Politico analysis. The Texas Tribune reported that former Rep. Beto O'Rourke 's (D-Texas) political group has been a top fundraiser for the Texas Democrats, putting its $3.5 million war chest toward covering their costs. Texas issued arrest warrants for the missing Democrats and Abbott has warned that they'd be in violation of federal election laws if they fundraise to cover their expenses. TEXAS GOP POLITICS AT PLAY Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), who are locked in a nasty primary race, have found openings to attack one another over how to deal with the missing Democrats. Cornyn asked the FBI to intervene to assist in returning the lawmakers to Texas. 'This is a state issue, I don't know what the FBI would have to do with this,' Paxton said on Steve Bannon 's 'War Room' podcast. Cornyn laid into Paxton for his recent trip to Europe, saying Abbott had to use his own lawyers to sue the Democrats because his rival was missing in action. 'Guess the Attorney General was too busy doing who knows what overseas so the Governor had to use his own lawyers,' Cornyn posted on X. 💡 Perspectives: • USA Today: I'm a Democrat who left Texas. This is why. • New York Post: Dems howling at Texas redistrict push are hypocrites. • Wall Street Journal: The Democratic protectorate of Illinois. • The Hill: It's Pritzker's party. Hell yes, he's messing with Texas. • The Hill: Democrats see opportunity in a wide open 2028 primary. CATCH UP QUICK Trump to announce $100B Apple investment in US manufacturing President Trump will announce that Apple plans to invest $100 billion in manufacturing in the U.S. in an effort to increase domestic production and avoid tariffs. The announcement will come at a 4:30 p.m. EDT event in the Oval Office. The Hill's Alex Gangitano reports: 'The announcement includes the launch of the American Manufacturing Program, which would be dedicated to bringing more of Apple's supply chain to the U.S. and involves the tech giant incentivizing other companies to manufacture more critical components domestically, the official said.' The $100 billion investment increases Apple's overall U.S. commitment to $600 billion. Apple claims to support more then 450,000 jobs through their thousands of suppliers and partners across the U.S. The announcement comes at a pivotal moment for Trump's trade war. Trump on Wednesday announced he would increase tariffs on India by 25 percent over its purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total tariffs he has imposed on New Delhi to 50 percent. India is furious, with the Ministry of External Affairs arguing that the purchase of Russian oil is a 'necessity' to 'ensure predictable and affordable energy costs' and was once 'encouraged' by the U.S. 'for strengthening global energy markets stability.' The Hill's Laura Kelly and Alex Gangitano report that the trade war has soured the bromance between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'During his first term, President Trump struck up an exuberant bromance with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, holding joint rallies in Texas and India and calling Modi one of 'America's greatest, most devoted, and most loyal friends.'…The tensions are straining a partnership that both Republicans and Democrats view as essential in challenging China.' The move against India is meant to ramp up pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for three hours on Wednesday ahead of Trump's looming ceasefire deadline. Trump has said if Russia does not move to end the war by Friday, the U.S. will slap new economic sanctions on Moscow meant to isolate them. Putin's representative Kirill Dmitriev described the conversation with Witkoff as 'constructive' and said dialogue 'continues and is critical for global security and peace.' A senior U.S. official said sanctions on Russia's key trading partners are still expected to go into effect on Friday. MEANWHILE… Trump's tariffs have domestic and foreign leaders making the trek to Washington to seek common ground. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), a potential 2028 presidential contender, met with Trump on Tuesday at the White House to raise concerns about the effects the president's tariff policy is having on her state. 'I will always do whatever I can to make life a little easier for Michiganders and strengthen our economy,' Whitmer said. 'We should do everything in our power to lower costs and grow more good-paying jobs in Michigan. I appreciate the president's time and attention to the matters we discussed.' Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter was in Washington on Wednesday to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as she seeks to soften Trump's 39 percent tariff, according to Bloomberg. ELSEWHERE… Trump is narrowing down a group of candidates to replace Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, whose term ends early next year. Trump says he has four people in mind to be the next Fed chief, led by Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, and Kevin Warsh, a former member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump might announce Powell's successor early in a bid to undermine him, as the president fumes over the Fed's refusal to lower interest rates. Trump will have an opportunity before then to influence Fed policy when he appoints a replacement for one of the Fed's governors, Adriana Kugler, who announced her retirement last week. Two Fed governors dissented from Powell in last week's 9-2 vote to keep interest rates steady, the first time that's happened in more than 30 years. 💡 Perspectives: • The American Prospect: The bleak future of Trumponomics. • American Greatness: Trump's calculated disruption. • The Atlantic: What exactly is the Russia 'hoax'? • RCP: Media functions as propaganda arm for Intelligence Community. Roundup: Trump turns focus to law and order The Trump administration is turning its attention to law and order after a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee was attacked in Washington. The victim, Edward Coristine, was assaulted early Sunday morning with his girlfriend by a group of teens who attempted to steal his car. Two 15-year-olds were arrested in connection with the attack. Coristine gained notoriety as DOGE's 19-year-old software engineer nicknamed 'Big Balls'. Trump on Tuesday railed against violent crime committed by 'youths' in the nation's capital and called for the District of Columbia to change its laws to allow for teenagers to be prosecuted as adults. The president also threatened to a federal takeover of Washington, D.C. 'If D.C. doesn't get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they're not going to get away with it anymore,' Trump posted on TruthSocial. The FBI released a new report finding violent crime fell by 4.5 percent in 2024, continuing a downward trend since peaking at the height of the COVID pandemic. MEANWHILE… The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it signed another state partnership to house migrant detainees. Indiana's 'Speedway Slammer,' a nod to the state's car race tracks, will expand an existing prison by 1,000 beds, DHS said. It's the second such state partnership to feature an alliterative name, following Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz.' IndyCar didn't approve of the government co-opting their racing imagery as part of the announcement. 'We were unaware of plans to incorporate our imagery as part of yesterday's announcement,' IndyCar said in a statement. 'Consistent with our approach to public policy and political issues, we are communicating our preference that our [intellectual property] not be utilized moving forward in relation to this matter.' On Wednesday, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem touted recruitment efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying they've received 80,000 applications for 10,000 open jobs. 💡 Perspectives: • The Liberal Patriot: Governing is tough when few agree on basic facts. • Freddie DeBoer: Dems have no plan for Trump's immigration nightmare. • The Free Press: Autoworkers want their unions back. • Sasha Stone: Democrats are trapped in a hell of their own making.
